News

Tornadoes Strike Florida and the South

By Associated Press

December 12 2012 12:58 PM EDT

Severe storms swept across the South Monday, December 10 with at least six preliminary tornadoes being reported from Arkansas to Florida.

The National Weather Service has confirmed that storm damage in Birmingham, Ala., was caused by a tornado with maximum winds estimated at 90 mph.

Forecasters say the tornado hit at about 4:45 a.m. Monday near the Birmingham farmer's market.

Mayor William Bell says there are no reports of injuries. However, the storm damaged roofs and broke windows. He says the city provided tarps to residents whose roofs were damaged.

Homeowner Clint Thornton told WBRC-TV that he was about to leave for work when he saw a funnel cloud. Thornton says he took cover in a closet with his wife and started praying.

The Thorntons are fine, but nearly all the windows in their home are broken.

Despite the recent tornadoes, 2012 is on pace to have the fewest U.S. tornadoes in any year, by raw count, since 1989, according to The Weather Channel's Tornado Expert Dr. Greg Forbes.

In Florida, officials confirm an EF-1 tornado touched down in Volusia County. It produced a path of damage about a mile long and 150 yards wide. About 40 mobile homes were damaged. Trees and power lines were also brought down by the tornado. There were no serious injuries but at least 12 homes are uninhabitable now.

A line of gas pumps at Fuel City on Finley Boulevard and Interstate 65 are blown over after severe weather in Birmingham, Ala., Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The National Weather Service has confirmed that storm damage Monday morning in Birmingham was caused by a tornado with maximum winds estimated at 90 mph.

(AP Photo/AL.com, Joe Songer)

Access to the area was initially blocked off as officials went door-to-door searching for victims. Residents were allowed to return to the community around 8:30 am.

Officials say there were also reports of trees down and two homes damaged at the nearby Jones Fish Camp.

Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas also reported storms. In Louisiana, police said a tornado touched down in Baker damaging a car wash on La. Highway 19.

Police Chief Mike Knaps told The Advocate the storm caused other problems including "a lot of damage" in the center of the city. Trees and power poles were damaged.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.